The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-28
INDIANA ANDILLIN0IS NEWS
4 Lightning-Rod Contract Which Tip
pecanoe County Farmers Disapprove.
The "Shaky Hill" Near Cambridge City
Death from an Overdose of ChiOral-A
Drunken Man Frozen leanings
INDIANA.
Lightning Rod Contracts Which Farmers
Are Seeking tn Have Dissolved.

Lightning Rod Contracts Which Farmers
Are Seeking to Have Dissolved.
Special TO the indianapolis Journa,
LAFAYETTE, Feb 27.-The Journal CORE
spondent has been shown one of the blank con-
tracts in use by liehtning-rod company, the
agents Of which have been operating in this
county and section of Indiana The organiza-
zion is called the North American Lightningrod
Company, and claims to have been established
in 1S49 The contract reads:
This contract. entered into this - day of -. be-
tween j. b. Hough company, of the first part, and
--- of the second part witnesseth that j. b.
Houga or company agrees to deliver upon the prem
Uses belonging to - sufficient three-fourth inch
copuerccyered lgbtningrod, with the - necessary
points 20 rod the - belonging to ---- in the cir
suit form.
In the blank seen by the reporter the words
"vanes points and balls free Of cost of old rod"
were inserted in writing
In consideration of the above agreement. l. the un-
dessigned party of the second part agree to pay to
bearer of this contract rs cents per foot for over
Did rod is written in / and each brace to be counted
Eve feet OF rod. Settlement to be made deliv-
cry of rods by cash or negotiable note.
In the case of Ira House it is claimed that the
agents made him verbal offer to rod his house
and barn for q mere trife-horse-feed and the
meals of the men while putting up the rods,
House to act as an agent in return for the favor.
House signed the CONTRACT. At the bottom of
each contract this is printed:
have read and fully understand the import of this
contract and it is hereby expressly agreed and under
made between us in any way, hereby waving all claims
ST verbal agreements of any nature not embodied in
this contract
House came to the city, and, by the aid of an
attorney and officers, secured the return of his
contract. As this last paragraph is printed, it is
reasonable to suppose that all of them word
ed that way. As verbal agreements count for
naught the written ones bind the signer firmly.
Cambridge City's s'shaky HILL"
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CAMBRIDGE CITY, Feb. 27-The natural gas
company of this city is organized under the fol-
towing directorship Samuel H. Hoshour, pres
ident: Linville Ferguson, John K. Smith, j. B.
Routh, F. G. Mosbaugh, John r. Mauk and Ct.
W. Drischel. The capital stock is placed at $50.
000 Operations will begin as soon as contracts
are made. Various indications Of oil and other
uncommon substances which have been found
in the water in this vicinity lead the stock takers
to trust that Cambridge lies in the oil belt, and
that the drilling will result in 'gusher."
To the southwest of this place, about one and
one-half mile. is HILL or rather mound, of
earth. about five miles in circumference e. which.
account of the peculiar phenomena attending
it at times, has received the name of ''Shaky
Hill" The farm was first settled about sixty
five years ago. a log cabin being built on the ele
walton. The pioneer household was repeatedly
alarmed by the violent shaking Of the house
while other portions of the country were undis
tnrbed. Families who have subsequently lived
in the house testify that they were startled Q
number of times by the shaking of the hill, a
time with sufficient force to throw the dishe:
from the table. and the action was always ac
companied by loud, rumbling noise. Many re
garded it with superstitious dread, and removed
from the place to avoid the unwelcome sensa
tons. In 1878 State Geologist Cox made this
locality visit. and gave as his opinion that the
disturbances were caused by the breaking ane
cracking of rocks Many ascribe the action t.
the force of natural gas and oil which may bt
confined under the earths crust, waiting for mar
to prepare avenue of escape